The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-09
lhE MEDICAL CONGRESS.
PROGRAMME OF THE MEETING
ARRANGED.
The Commissioner Of Patents Roa~
ders an Important Becision--
Nashyiil6's Invitation.

WASHINGTON, d. O., August S.-rhO
programme fer The International Med.
ical Congress, to be held In this city
in September, has been completed,
with the exception Of dI finite ar.
rangemeut for reception by PresI.
deaf Cleveland. The meeting will he
opened September 9th, when the con
gress will be organized. The report OF
the secretary general submit ed and
an address of Welcome delivered by
Secretary Bsysrd. In the evening o
conversation will te held at the pen
zion flee. General meetings will be
held on each morning OF the
week, s"d meetings OF special
br-,vles ol tnn medical profession
vi also DO held each day OF the week
except SNurd ~ Addresses will bs
delivered duing the session Of the
coc gress by DR. Austin Flint, Of New
York, on fever. its cautes aud rational
treatment; by DIR. Marisne Ssmmols,
OF Naplep, Italy, on bi ctsi iiology and
Its therapeuticsl relations by DR.. p. q.
unna, OF Hamburg, Germany, on tho
relations oil dermato lopy 10 general
medicine; by DIR. q. Fielding Blan-
ford, OF London, on the treatment Of
recent cases OF insanity In asylums ard
in private houses; by Dr.. A. Uhaud.
of Paris, on the influence Ct disc lysr.
les OF American surgeons on the de-
velopme1t OF gynaceology In Europe,
and by DIR. Neudoifer, OF Vienna, on
the military medicine Of the present
and that Ui the near future.
IMPORTANT DECISION.
The Commissioner OF Patents has
renpered a decision on one OF the most
important questions which has recent
| ly come b fore the office. The decis-
ion involves the technical constrnc.
| tion of al aims in patents, the employ
ment therein OF abstract phraseoloey,
general, indefinite and vsgue terms
such az "meAns," or "mschanism''--
which may be construed 10 30 broaden
and expai d the invention that every.
thing la the art 10 covered all future
inventions are required TO pay tribute.
and tho public perpetually taxed. The
| Commissioner says that the flee Ia
req iiredto be vigilant that an applicant
ehall not obtain claims which mIslead,
vex and haraes the general public.
but ho.d him 30 his dlalinct invention
AZ set forth In his clsim--not what Il
is capable Of being expanded ints by
general and irdeflnite language. The
commissioner holds that while a pat
entes IL at liberty TO employ such Ian
gugge and phrases ms h- eisots, hs 10
requ rel TO point ont his particular in
venton, 90 that the people may not be
deluded, nor the inventive genius OF
the pubic deferred or frightened from
pursuits in the same art or field of in
vention by a patent containing equiv
ocal claims which In effect would sup
press all further Improvement.
ASSOCIATION oT THE KID CROSS.
Mics Clara Barton, President Of the
American National Association OF the
Rsd Cross, aud DR.. ]. B. Hubbell, gen
eral field agent and secretary oil the
essociation, have been appointed BY
President Cleveland delegates 10 rep
recent the United States at the fourth
I international Conference OF the Red
Cross, 10 be held nj the court ol tho
Grand Duke and Duchess OF Baden,
which opens at Csrlsruhe, Germany,
on the I'D Of next September. They
will sail for Europe early next month.
This will be Miss Barton's second
etand 20 Europe no the Red Cross rep.
Tesentative OF this country, having by
appointment OF President Arthur at
tended the Geneva Conference In 1884
the 6rst international conference In
which the United statee Was repre-
aenied.
EAsHyILI.R's INVITATION.
Assistant s Secretary Of State Porter
this morning, conveyed 10 the Pfesi'
dent an invitation from the people oi
Nashville and Middle Tenneasee "a
visit that city, and another from the
Chamber Of Commerce, OF Knoxville
10 pay that city visit. The Presi.
dent, Il is understood, will visit Nash
Vile, bat has not yet determined upon
the time. He has taken the Knox.
VILE invitation under consideration.
and will determine soon whether
time and tho public business will maks
II poHsidle for him TO accept.